Certification goals for 2016

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  • SconnieInShortsSconnieInShorts Member Posts: 30 ■■□□□□□□□□
    MCS Virtualization & System Center 2012
    MCSA Server 2012 R2
    Upgrade to MCSA 2016
    MCSE 2012 Private Cloud (If it's available, I might do MCSE 2016 Private Cloud)
    You can cross one off the list for 2016... I passed the Virtualization w/ Hyper-V and System Center this morning :D
    2016 Goals --
    Microsoft Certified Specialist - Virtualization with Hyper-V and System Center: 74-409 [X]; MCSA Server 2012: 70-410 [], 70-411 []; MCSE Private Cloud: 70-246 [], 70-247[]; MCSA Server 2016: TBD []; VCP6-DCV []
  • IristheangelIristheangel Mod Posts: 4,133 Mod
    It's not really a certification but I'll say it: CCIE R&S Written :) I'm also going to take a year-long program for Business Architectural transformation. I feel pretty strong on the design and technical side but I feel like this will bridge some of the business gaps I have.

    I'm finding that the further I go in my career and further up I go on the certification tracks, the smaller my goals list because for the year. Mostly because my one or two goals are beasts in themselves and aren't things that can be knocked out in a couple months. I do a lot of side education such as that Z2H Security class I'm taking for 16 weeks, ACI training, Firepower training, etc but they're not really certification based and I find them to be more of a stress relief and break from the CCIE studies. Certifications definitely offer a structured way of educating yourself and for the associate through professional level exams, I found that I could knock them out quick enough if I focused that I wouldn't get bored. As I've learned in the last 2 years, the CCIE isn't really something you can take time off of to study another certification so all my extra education has to be a little less strict that certification-study.

    Eventually after getting a CCIE Security, R&S and CCDE over the next couple of years, I'm hoping to round myself out with some more Linux, big data, NSX and general VMware skills along with maybe diving into python and scripting. Not really 2016 goals for those but just looking long-term to be the best technologist I can be :)
    BS, MS, and CCIE #50931
    Blog: www.network-node.com
  • IristheangelIristheangel Mod Posts: 4,133 Mod
    TechGromit wrote: »
    WOW, after reading some people's goals, can't help to wonder how realistic they are. Some list five or more new certifications in a year, seems like an unobtainable goal to me. Maybe I'm just lazy.

    My goals are to get my CCENT and CCNA certifications. I already took a global knowledge course for each of them, just have to get off my lazy butt and get serious about studying for them.

    Then I'd like to take Sans SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits and Incident Handling training in 2016 and obtain GCIH.


    I wouldn't read too much into it. Most of the people listing 5-6 certifications as goals are looking at entry-level or mid-level certs so it's entirely realistic. It's not like they're listing 5 CCIE labs. When I first started, I knocked out 4 certs within the first 6 months (A+, Network+, Security+, Linux). They were all beginner exams and fairly easy. Plus some of these guys might have been working on these exams already so they're 80-90% of the way there anyways.

    Anyways, goals are aspirational targets anyways :) Hopefully they're realistic and you can push yourself to get them but if they aren't, well... hopefully that person doesn't get discouraged and give up
    BS, MS, and CCIE #50931
    Blog: www.network-node.com
  • joeljosuejoeljosue Member Posts: 11 ■□□□□□□□□□
    CCNP
    MCSA 2012
    maybe VCP-DC
  • capwapcapwap Member Posts: 34 ■■□□□□□□□□
    RHCSA
    CEH (maybe)
    Some Cisco shiznit
  • PupilPupil Member Posts: 168
    planning on taking one SANS course, might challenge a couple others
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Senior Member Posts: 0 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Had to do a lot of thinking over the past few months and I have decided on my certs for next year:

    Microsoft Specialist in Windows 7 and my CCNP Switch 300-115 exam and CISSP.
  • Chivalry1Chivalry1 Member Posts: 569
    Either the CISSP concentration (CISSP-ISSAP)
    CCSP (New ISC2) Certification
    "The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: be satisfied with your opinions and
    content with your knowledge. " Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915)
  • IristheangelIristheangel Mod Posts: 4,133 Mod
    I think I'm going to add another two on there: SSFIPS and SSFAMP so I get the Sourcefire Certified Expert certification. I feel like it'll easily be inline with my weekend class so not much more effort and I'm definitely interested in the topics. I don't think they'll derail my CCIE studies at all
    BS, MS, and CCIE #50931
    Blog: www.network-node.com
  • devils_haircutdevils_haircut Member Posts: 284 ■■■□□□□□□□
    I don't think I posted in this thread yet...

    I got through CCNP: SWITCH a couple months ago, then got sidetracked with WGU stuff. I'm hoping to have ROUTE and TSHOOT done very soon. The original goal was to have them completed before my annual review in mid-February, but that would be tough to do now.

    With the amount of wireless I touch now, getting in some Meraki or Aerohive training would be super. Failing that, I might just push into the CCNA: Wireless stuff. I'm pretty heavily Cisco-focused for now, although about half the environments I work with are primarily HP switching gear.
  • mokazmokaz Member Posts: 172
    these are the ones i'm focusing/reading on/about right now:

    SLAE (SecurtityTube Linux Assembly Expert) --> paid & enrolled as a preparation for OSCE during my xmas break
    OSCE
    OPST
    ACE

    These are on the maybe side (for money concerns and timing of course):

    GCFA and/or GXPN
    CCSK and/or CCSP
  • rudegeekrudegeek Member Posts: 69 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Certs achieved this year were:

    GSEC + GCWN

    Failed VCP and Microsoft 70-411 (both of which I'm sure I would have passed if I wanted to try again, but I've moved on).

    In progress with Elearn Web App Pentesting. And, I did 2 months of OSCP labs early this year.

    So, next year it will have to be WAPTv2, OSCP, OSCE and CISSP. Maybe another SANS course preferably Windows Forensics (40icon_cool.gif or GCIA (403). If selected for work study that is.....

    Another busy year, but only Infosec certs = more fun.
  • chopstickschopsticks Member Posts: 389
    I hope to be able to clear PMP, VCP6 and CISSP this year. :)
  • DWitherDWither Member Posts: 34 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Getting my A+ 1st off . Im starting my 1st kinda IT role. As a mobile device support agent in a call center . From there i want to get my Network+. Then from there hopefully enroll in WGU later this year
  • fullcrowmoonfullcrowmoon Member Posts: 172
    CISM
    keep doing well in grad school
    "It's so stimulating being your hat!"
    "... but everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked."
  • dsgmdsgm Member Posts: 228 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Wireshark (personal)
    Finish up CCNP
    CCDA
    CCNA DC (Personal)
    If possible VCP5
  • rob1234rob1234 Banned Posts: 151
    Interesting looks like security certs on high on most peoples to do list.
  • knownheroknownhero Member Posts: 450
    MCSE: SharePoint 2013

    Was hoping for it in 2015 but alas... I took to long studying for the 70-411.
    70-410 [x] 70-411 [x] 70-462[x] 70-331[x] 70-332[x]
    MCSE - SharePoint 2013 :thumbup:

    Road map 2017: JavaScript and modern web development

  • SeekBytesSeekBytes Member Posts: 143
    I would like to complete the CCNP in routing and switch by June 2016.
  • varelgvarelg Banned Posts: 790
    dsgm wrote: »
    Wireshark (personal)...
    Hey! Wait a minute, I want that too! Gosh darn it! Sigh... Revising my own goals for 2016 and adding Wireshark to RHCSA, RHCE and a cloud admin cert. Yeah, "thanks" dsmg... icon_wink.gif
  • whotimewhotime Member Posts: 122 ■■■□□□□□□□
    WGU Needs:
    CCENT
    CCNA
    CCNA:S
    Linux+

    Professional:
    HCISPP
    GCIH
    GSEC
    CISM


    This is a hearty and ambitious list of certifications to get. The WGU certs (and Degree :)) and the HCISPP are my top focus for this year.
    WGU BS: IT-Security
    In Progress: C170, C246
    To Be Completed: C247, C299, C697, C698, C435, C436, C179
  • sigsoldiersigsoldier Member Posts: 136 ■■■□□□□□□□
    I should finish my MSISA in the first quarter of 2016. That'll be right around the time the new CISSP-ISSEP official study guide comes out, so I'm thinking of going that route.

    I'm guessing that will be all I get through next year.
  • MSP-ITMSP-IT Member Posts: 752 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Finish MBA at WGU
    ISSAP
    Maybe work on the OSCP again if I have time.
  • Nafe92014Nafe92014 Member Posts: 279 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Seeing I'm currently doing my colleges CCNA Curriculum, I'll be taking the CCENT in April or May after I pass the 2nd of 4 Cisco courses. Then in year 2, i'll take my CCNA after I pass course 3 and 4. As for other certifications besides my CCENT for the upcoming year, I may tackle a MCSA Server certification or maybe Linux+ (retaking Linux course in April).
    Certification Goals 2020: CCNA, Security+

    "You have enemies? Good, that means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." ~Winston S. Churchill
  • RealUnitedRealUnited Member Posts: 12 ■□□□□□□□□□
    A+
    CCNA
    Security+
    Wireless
  • powerfoolpowerfool Member Posts: 1,665 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Nafe92014 wrote: »
    Seeing I'm currently doing my colleges CCNA Curriculum, I'll be taking the CCENT in April or May after I pass the 2nd of 4 Cisco courses. Then in year 2, i'll take my CCNA after I pass course 3 and 4. As for other certifications besides my CCENT for the upcoming year, I may tackle a MCSA Server certification or maybe Linux+ (retaking Linux course in April).

    The Cisco Networking Academy is a very good program. I know there are differing opinions, but I found the program too slow-paced. They do offer a two varieties, though... a 4 semester option and a 2 semester option. Unfortunately, it is left to the institution as to which option that they offer. It is neither good nor bad, because slow-paced for me (someone who had studied the CCNA material for 5 years and had 6 years of IT experience, at the time), was much too quick for some of the folks in the class. The funny thing is, I chose my university based mostly on their offering of the program (and their strong evening curriculum and accelerated courses for adult learners) and I only ended up taking the first and second semesters.
    2024 Renew: [ ] AZ-204 [ ] AZ-305 [ ] AZ-400 [ ] AZ-500 [ ] Vault Assoc.
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  • IggI_SupremeIggI_Supreme Member Posts: 18 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Goals for 2016:
    CCNA Security
    Linux LP1
    CISSP
    A job with benefits.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Senior Member Posts: 0 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Goals for 2016 official: CCNP Switch, Microsoft Specialist Windows 7 configuring.

    Had to do a lot of thinking and planning but because of some unexpected life expenses, I have to cut back my cert spending and just take these 2 exams and split up my CCNP over the next couple of years.
  • f16jetmanf16jetman Member Posts: 108
    Finish off CCNA R&S (Scheduled the 200-101 for Jan 4th), and CCNA: Security, Linux+. Finish WGU above all to keep student loans to a bare minimum. After WGU I do not see myself earning new certs in 2016. Good luck everyone with your goals!
    I picked the wrong profession. Too much studying. :study:
    [FONT=&amp]Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, [/FONT][FONT=&amp]but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24[/FONT]
  • actionhank1786actionhank1786 Member Posts: 34 ■■□□□□□□□□
    I'm planning on getting the MCSA finished up for my Server 2012 studies by April. I have the 410 scheduled for the end of this month, then I hope to ramp up the studies after that. Then I was thinking of a Linux cert, maybe something with Red Hat. Then I'm planning to knock out Security+ and hopefully get a bit more involved with the security side of things. Guess it's a popular topic.
    Slowhand wrote: »
    I plan to take all the certs I said I was going to in 2015, that were pushed back from 2014, that were procrastinated on all throughout 2013, and that were hard-set goals in 2012.

    In all seriousness, this upcoming year I plan on figuring out ways to make more time for studying. I need to do both certs and some academic book-hopping, so it'll be increasingly important for me to find the time every day, every week, every month, if I'm going to hit any of these long-standing goals. . . let alone new goals on the horizon. Small course-corrections, one step at a time, that's the real goal.

    My biggest hurdle is just finding the time to not burn out on work/studying. Between the 8-9 hours a day doing the System/Network/Phone Admin then 3 days of an hour of Krav a week (which still isn't enough working out to counter my garbage eating) and another day of driving 2 hours each way to St. Louis for hockey...i feel like by the time I can sit down to study I'm so worn out from everything else that I just get distracted.

    I've been trying to do my listening to CBT Nuggets at work, then that way I'm getting excited about trying out the new stuff when I get home to my lab. Granted, that all depends on e-mail/phone calls not disrupting the process.
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